There are several different types of wood floor and floating floors are the most common. Once you have chosen the floor type that best meets your needs, it's time to decide what underlay to install.
Floating wood floors are not installed directly onto the floor of the room. Instead, they sit on top of an underlay, which makes the strips easier to install and helps insulate your home as much as possible.
All floating wood floors require an underlay to help protect them from general wear and tear, but there are several different types to choose from; each with their pros and cons.
So what type of underlay is most suitable for a floating wood floor?
Sometimes, people assume that any thick or padded material (such as a rug) will make a good wood floor underlay. In reality, an underlay that is too thick will create too much space between the different parts of the floating floor, putting strain on the points where the strips meet. To put it simply, an overly thick underlay makes the wood floor too flexible and therefore weaker.
That's why you should choose the underlay for your floating floor with care. In general, a thickness of several millimetres is sufficient.
Thermal insulation is the most important type of insulation. It's essential to choose an underlay that doesn't retain or transfer heat from the wood floor. A good underlay should improve the comfort of your home and help you save money on your energy bill.
If you have underfloor heating, it's also important to make sure your chosen underlay is compatible with this kind of floor.
People who have noisy neighbours living upstairs will be able to vouch for the fact that sound and vibrations are easily transmitted from one floor to another. Wood floor underlays are designed to reduce noise disturbance. This is what's called soundproofing and acoustic insulation.
Soundproofing refers to the prevention of noise transmission from the inside to the outside of a property.
Acoustic insulation is the reduction of echoes and resonance and the prevention of noise transmission inside a property.
In other words, a floating floor underlay is designed to reduce the transmission of impacts (footsteps, falling objects, washing machine vibrations) between the wood and the floor. Your insulation requirements will differ depending on your property, the neighbouring properties and the room where your wood floor is installed.
Moisture can vary considerably from one room to the next, depending on each one's location within the property, the amount of sunlight received and how well ventilated the space is. Any temperature fluctuations and the transfer of heat (or lack of it) between the wood and the floor can lead to problems with moisture.
Concrete is a porous material so any floors made of concrete are susceptible to mould. Once moisture seeps into the floors, it can easily make its way into the wood strips if they are not sufficiently protected.
Aside from the annoyance caused by having residual moisture in the room, it can also cause the wood floor to rapidly deteriorate.
If you have a concrete floor, it's important to lay a vapour barrier. This plastic sheet insulates the rest of the floor from moisture and makes it practically watertight.
However, depending on where you install your floating wood floor, a vapour barrier may prove more of a hindrance than a help. Certain natural materials like wood need to 'breathe'. The same applies to engineered and laminated wood. A vapour barrier traps moisture;,causing wood floors to degrade faster than they normally would. In this case, polyethylene foam makes a suitable alternative to a vapour barrier as it enables the floor to breathe.
There is one exception to the rule: if the wood floor is installed in a very humid space like a bathroom, laying a vapour barrier is a smart move.
The most common type of underlay, polyethylene foam is cheap, easy to install and comes in ready-to-use rolls. It is thinner than other types of underlay and therefore less insulating:
XPS underlay comes in ready-to-use slabs or rolls and has several benefits.
Cork underlay comes in ready-to-use slabs or rolls and makes a good sustainable alternative to non-natural underlays.
When choosing an underlay for your floating wood floor, it's important to consider the two weaknesses inherent to this kind of flooring.
The first is the risk of moisture seeping out through the floor, especially if it is made of concrete. It is therefore important to choose a moisture-resistant underlay or a vapour barrier.
The second is floating floors' increased propensity to amplify sound compared to other types of wood floor. Underlays should therefore be soundproof and offer excellent acoustic insulation.
You may also want to consider other factors, such as sustainability. If you have any questions, the Panaget team is always available. Get in touch with our advisers to find out more.